Ansonia Rotary Club to mark passage of time with clock tower as gift

ANSONIA  The Ansonia Rotary Club will mark its 100th anniversary next year with a timely gift to the city: an 11-foot clock tower to be installed in the heart of downtown.

Jean Falbo-Sosnovich

Published
12:00 am EDT, Friday, October 17, 2003

Rotary Club President Vince Caramanello received official endorsement from the Board of Aldermen this week to proceed with the clubs special centennial project.

Caramanello said the project will cost the club about $5,000, and will feature installation of a clock tower on the corner lot of Main and Bridge streets, the area known as Haddad Park. The clock tower will be the clubs latest donation to the city.

The group previously spruced up the vacant corner lot in recent years. In 1998, members built several park benches and landscaped the parcel as part of a beautification project that cost about $4,000.

Club members said the tower, which will feature the club logo in the center of the clock face, will serve as a landmark downtown, and will be something for the entire community to enjoy.

Caramanello said Rotary International will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2005, and each individual club has been asked to do a centennial project. There are 1.2 million members in more than 31,000 clubs and 166 countries worldwide, Caramanello noted.

Funding for the clock tower will come partly from a grant it secured from the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven. Caramanello also said the club would seek assistance from the city Public Works Department to erect a base to install the tower on. He hopes to have a dedication ceremony and unveiling of the clock tower in fall 2004.

"We think this is a win-win situation for the town," Caramanello said. "We think the project is very worthwhile."

Aldermanic President Peter Danielczuk agreed that the clock tower would be a welcome addition to the Main Street area.

Mayor James Della Volpe was more than happy to give his blessing to the project.

"Im sure its going to be a great addition to the downtown," he said, adding he was grateful for all the work the club has done over the years to help make the city a better place to live.

The club is composed of business and professional leaders who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations and help build good will and peace.